Sunday, October 5, 2008

A billiards buddy from Filling Station, Renan Dalisay, asked me for more info about Wesley So, the Filipino chess prodigy. No need to use my ever reliable online search tools on this one, friends. After all, who doesn’t know Wesley So?

In a nutshell, Wesley So is a Filipino chess prodigy. He is currently the second youngest chess Grandmaster in the world and the 7th youngest GM in history! The Filipino chess player achieved the title at age 14 years, 1 month, and 28 days during the 3rd Pichay Cup International Open held in ParañaqueCity, in December 2007.

Wesley So realized his first GM result in the Offene Internationale Bayerische Schaha Meisterschaft in Bad Wiessee, Germany (November 2006) and his second GM norm in the World Juniors Under-20 Chess Championship in Yerevan, Armenia (September 2007). The Filipino Grandmaster also won the World Under-16 Team Championship Board 1 gold medal with a very impressive 9.5/10 score!

But wait, there’s more! In the Philippines, Wesley So holds the record of having been the youngest member of the national men’s team to the Chess Olympiad (2006 - Turin, Italy) at the age of 12, as well as the nation’s youngest National Open Chess Champion and its youngest National Junior Open Chess Champion! Now, that’s one phenomenal list of achievements, everyone! And I kid you not!

In addition, Wesley So has competed in World Youth Championships in 2003, 2004, and 2005, finishing equal first in his age group in Belfort in 2005. His other achievements include two Gold Medals in the 6th Asean Age-Group Chess Championship (Vung Tau, Vietnam); three Gold Medals in 7th Asean Age-Group Chess Championship (Pattaya, Thailand); and the 2008 Dubai Open Title (United Arab Emirates).

-- Maraming Salamat Po! --

About Me

aka The Champ. A Filipino! Born on the 24th of July. Plays the piano, guitar, and the clarinet. Collects books and stamps. Very much into billiards, fishing and photography. A Financial Analyst, Business Analyst, and Information Scientist. A pool player. A Student of Life - Seeking Alpha certified. And I kid you not!